Supervisory Aircraft Pilot
Job Description
Summary
Serves as Chief, Aircraft Pilot in the Aviation Safety Office at NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas. Responsible for directing the overall aviation safety program for JSC and the Aircraft Operations Division. Advises and supports line management within Flight Operations Directorate on aviation, ground, and industrial safety issues. The Aviation Safety Office promotes aviation safety measures and uses all resources available to promote mishap prevention.
Who Can Apply
Current Johnson Space Center federal employee serving on a career, career-conditional, Schedule A for individuals with disabilities, or NASA term appointment that provides eligibility to convert to a permanent appointment or a current NASA employee on a long-term rotational assignment to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center or the NASA Safety Center.
Duties
- Serves as the JSC Aviation Safety Officer and as Chief of the Aviation Safety Office responsible for directing the overall efforts of the aviation safety program for Johnson Space Center (JSC).
- Provides subject matter expertise in aircraft safety and oversees the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive aircraft safety program.
- Manages aircraft mishap investigations, including analysis of the facts, development of findings, trends, and recommendations.
- Serves as Pilot in Command or Co-Pilot operating aircraft in support of Federal agency missions and programs; provides ground instruction, flight training, and in-flight evaluations to ensure pilot qualification, proficiency, and safety compliance.
- Plans and conducts flight tests of developmental and modified aircraft and aircraft components to assess performance, airworthiness, and operational effectiveness.
- Provides subject matter expertise, professional guidance, and peer review to the cadre of pilots at NASA JSC and across the agency.
- Serves as an active member of the NASA Aviation Safety community by providing technical support and participating in mishap investigation boards at other aviation centers, as required.
- Performs a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.
Requirements
- Current Federal employees must meet qualifications, time in grade, and 90 days after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- At the time of initial appointment, you must possess a current FAA first class medical certificate or a military pilot flight physical; OR you must obtain a NASA flight medical certification.
- You must be proficient in the English language.
- Position subject to pre-employment background security investigation.
- If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.
- Subject to completion of a one-year supervisory probationary period.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
To qualify for this position, you must possess:
1. Certificate and Rating:
- A current Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot's Certificate/License with an instrument rating OR a pilot and instrument rating from the armed services; AND
- A current Federal Aviation Administration Flight Instructor Certificate/License with ratings OR a flight instructor with ratings from the armed services.
2. Flight Hours: A minimum of the following flight time hours:
- 1,125 hours of Total Flight Time as pilot-in-command or co-pilot in aircraft of any weight or category, and
- 250 hours pilot-in-command in aircraft of any weight or category, and
- 50 hours of night flying, and
- 50 hours of flight time in the preceding 12 months.
- Participating in and evaluating aircraft operations activities (both ground in-flight), procedures, processes, and maintenance and safety requirements.
- Reviewing and applying aviation safety regulations, policies, techniques, and reporting requirements to ensure compliance;
- Serving as an instructor pilot in at least one of the following NASA aircraft(s): T-38, WB-57, Super Guppy Transport, TH-57, Gulfstream GV;
- Serving as a Pilot in Command (PIC) in at least two of the following NASA aircraft(s): T-38, WB-57, Super Guppy Transport, TH-57, Gulfstream GV.
4. Specialty Flight Hours: Instructor Time Requirement:
- A minimum of 500 hours providing flight instruction directly related to the area of instruction and category of aircraft in the position.
To receive proper consideration, you must:
- Submit a copy of your pilot and instructor license (front and back) with your application AND
- Ensure that your flight hours are broken down as above and indicated in your resume.
Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.
NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Evaluation
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements outlined in this vacancy announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed in conjunction with your responses to the assessment questionnaire. As part of the assessment, your responses to the Written Interview prompts will be scored and used to place you into one of three quality groups. These scores, along with your qualifications and supporting materials, will determine your referral status. Please ensure your application materials and responses accurately reflect your experience and competencies, as misrepresentation may result in removal from consideration.
Assessment preview link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12905648
These competencies will be assessed using technical assessments. They may also be evaluated during a structured interview:
- Accident Investigation
- Institutional Aircraft Operations
- Problem Solving
- Safety Engineering
NASA considers paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Under NASA's quality grouping process, applicants will be assessed on the position competencies and placed in one of three groups identified and defined below:
- Best Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
- Highly Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate a satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
- Qualified Group - Applicants who demonstrate the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Best Qualified merit promotion candidates. Highly Qualified merit promotion candidates may also be referred, if additional candidates are needed.
- Qualified candidates eligible for consideration under Schedule A or VRA in accordance with veterans' preference rules, as applicable.
- Qualified candidates that are eligible for special hiring authorities or non-competitive hiring authorities.
Required Documents
All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised. All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment.
A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: . Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. If you are using a Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a resume, it must meet all requirements listed above for a complete resume package.
Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified:
- Classified or government sensitive information.
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
- Encrypted and digitally signed documents
The following documents are required:
- Professional License
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
There may be other supporting documents (Notification of Personnel Action SF-50, licenses, certification, veterans preference, transcripts, etc.), depending on your answers to the questionnaire and job announcement description, that you may have to submit, please verify your application. Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.
If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
If you are a veteran and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For more information on veterans' preference and possible other supporting documents that you may have to submit, please visit FedshireVets.
Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.
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Job Details
- Department
- Mechanical
- Category
- Business & Finance
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Posted
- Mar 19, 2026, 08:00 PM
- Listed
- Mar 20, 2026, 12:15 AM
- Compensation
- $176,938 - $197,200 per year
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